B-Hebrew: The Biblical Hebrew Forum

Friends,‎
Psalm 63:8 כִּֽי־הָיִ֣יתָ עֶזְרָ֣תָה לִּ֑י וּבְצֵ֖ל כְּנָפֶ֣יךָ אֲרַנֵּֽן׃

Why is there a tav in עֶזְרָ֣תָה , helper, in this verse and Ps 44:27 & Ps 94:17?
I expected it to just be עֶזְרָה .

Similarly in Psalm 60:13 = Ps 108:13 & Isa 31:2, it is spelled ‎ עֶזְרַ֖ת .

Thank you.

Hi Steve,

SteveMiller wrote: ↑Thu Mar 18, 2021 4:52 pmSimilarly in Psalm 60:13 = Ps 108:13 & Isa 31:2, it is spelled עֶזְרַ֖ת.

Notice that in Isa. 31:2 the word עזרת is with Patah', and that is a regular construct state of the word עזרה.
And in the two cases of Psalm, the word is with Qamats, and that is a stand-alone noun which is like the word עזרה. Only that עזרת is kind of poetic form of the word עזרה that kept it archaic feminine suffix T (letter ת).

SteveMiller wrote: ↑Thu Mar 18, 2021 4:52 pmPsalm 63:8 כִּֽי־הָיִ֣יתָ עֶזְרָ֣תָה לִּ֑י וּבְצֵ֖ל כְּנָפֶ֣יךָ אֲרַנֵּֽן׃

Why is there a Tav in עֶזְרָ֣תָה, helper, in this verse and Ps 44:27 & Ps 94:17?
I expected it to just be עֶזְרָה.

once again, here it is also a poetic form.
it has the same meaning.

It can be assumed that this form is an old style of giving the directional article to the noun.
as עזרתה is actually: "for/to help" (just like מצרימה is "to מצרים).
(it fits in Psalms 44:27).

But anyway, in most of the cases it seems that this form is turned to be a poetic form for the style of the writing. And there are other words that have it too like עולתה and אימתה and a few more.

Thanks very much, David. (I have copied your explanation to my userlex notes in Bibleworks.)